Ok, neighbor (I live down by LAX), I'll throw in a couple more cents. First of all, no, you're not silly, you just shocked the heck out of us is all...I think it was the evening view toward the house that did it!!! Secondly, don't give up your questions because you do want to make *some* changes otherwise you wouldn't have asked. It sounds like the 'sterile' observation hit a chord, so work with that. I can't tell from just the two pics, but is this a fairly new property, because the landscaping seems small, either young or groomed that way. As someone with a passion for gardening and I would think the feeling you have being in the garden may be add odds with the straight, although beautiful, lines of the columns and house since you had the idea for the English garden. Sooo, take a deep breath, with any house, let alone a large one, it's a marathon, not a race, and there's always things that need changing. So, since you asked, here's some thoughts that come to my mind, in no order.... -For sure keep the view from the house to the ocean open, it looks nearly like an infinity pool, is stunning, and I would think very relaxing and good for the spirit. As mentioned, taking out the pool entirely is probably not the best thing if you move, and if you're not old enough for a jacuzzi yet but you will be eventually so that's a must keeper if they are the pools on the sides! ;-) Or, for that matter, if you re-arrange the pool a bit later, I'd keep the 'therapy' water in the design. Folks may not swim, but most everyone has a bad back, etc. and what better than enjoy the therapy looking out over the ocean??? -Is that a balcony in the middle of the house? What about some _modest_ sized, so as not to eliminate the lines of the house trailing plants or even roses? Bouganville would be monsters unless you could find a small variety, but would be drought tolerant and match the style of the house. -Urns would match the decor, but not soften the appearance if that's where you're going. Also, don't forget, unless you specifically drain water away from pots, they'll stain the concrete around the pool and it will look ghastly. -I have to agree about finding a professional for more guidance in the pool area. There must be a ton that work up there. There are so many landscape designs up there drive around at least for ideas, and if you're really brave, knock on the door on a weekend to see if they'll share. If nothing else, they should take the question as a compliment. -Knowing not what I know not, I wonder if there are pool people that could change the style of the pool to (it sounds like?) something elegant but more garden appropriate, more pond-like as mentioned above, ie, darker bottom, garden waterfall into it, etc. If it's chlorine you can have a gizmo put in that somehow makes chlorine for you, eliminating some of the maintanance, or go for salt water, some people like it, I don't know the pros and cons. -Weather. It gets chilly up there in the afternoon, let alone other than the summer season. And foggy. If you do make changes, do keep in mind some protected space if you don't have it elsewhere, if you want to sit outdoors and enjoy the view of your new garden design and the ocean. Ok, gotta get back to work, but do take to heart that although I'm sure you love your new house and the view is amazing, you wouldn't have posted if you were 'comfortable' in the pool area. Follow your instincts and see where you go. It's your space, keep asking questions until you're happy with it. Best wishes!

guys can be that way, grant learned his lesson last spring when he got so sick. he missed all that work. it was so bad. he was glued to the couch. i so love this group of people!!! so caring for each other!! oh becky i tell ya the best thing i ever did was go to sallys beauaty sallon and buy one of them wax thingi's for 19 bucks. and then i bought a small thing of wax for like 13 i think. then i use strips of crappy sheets. LOL ya know. the one's we keep using. but they have the strips there for i think 6 bucks. and i also use pop cycle sticks. alot cheaper to use them!! i use olive oil afterwards to make sure all the stuff is off my face. it makes me nice and soft!! LOL so all in all. under 40 bucks to get your stuff done in the middle of the night or whenever you want it done, and no one can look at ya afterwards if ya want, LOL like after ya get it done by someone else. LOL but that's just my opinion. LOL i did my chin and my sides (of my face) just make sure to leave enough pull room!! LOL :')) i wanta go back and see if they have any almond massage oil. then i'll be happy!! yep!! so we went t the store today. grant and i did not mesh. at all. we argued the whole time!! of course he said it was my fault and i say its his fault and bla bla bla. then on the way home we didn't even get out of town and he told me sams club lets ya get cash back, apparently i musta made a face, he was like what was that disgusted face about?? all attituded out. well that was it for me so by now i'm yelling in the kia. and i'm like what? what? i didn't do anything! do ya just want me to draw some eyebrows on?? will that make it all better for you?? will it?? cuz if it will i will!!!! and for your info i don't have a problem with that!! thats just your own problem or guilty consience or something. and i was done!! didn't talk all the way home. and baby that's over 40 mine. a long time for me!!! LOL i think at that moment i actually hated him more than anything!! but we get home and we get inside and its like nothing ever happened. i'm so not kidding!! we got along so good!! i think its just that he's so used to shopping by himself and the stress of spending the very little he got off of his last check from the one job. and he just told me citibank told him that they are gonna repo our house if he doesn't pay them our payment by the 22nd. by now, i'm almost in hestarics inside. that's the reason i didn't want to morgage our house. cuz up til then we owned it. so i calmly ask. honey. are ya gonna be able to pay it?? he say's yes. i'll get paid by then. then i freak!!! I'm bad about that!! but that's no excuse for today. imo. i don't know. it's been crazy!! LOL hope ya'lls day went alot better!!

Lynn- we have the orange one with devil ears. I cannot even find a tooth puncture on it. Love it! And why are the nylabones so, so.... how do I say this.... falic?! We get the ones that look like a bone at Walmart for 7.99, way cheaper than pet stores. He can gnaw tiny flecks off it so we have to watch it closely. He tosses it around on the wood floors, or shoves it at you when you walk by. The sharp edges are annoying. Whenever we can't find it we look under the stove, it usually slides under there. This Cuz thing is amazing. He picks it up as soon as we head downstairs for breakfast. He runs around chasing us while we get ready for school/work. As soon as we come home he runs for it again. Cats can be quite amazing too I agree. Sealy likes to hide between the shower curtain and liner and tease the dog. When he looks in one end, she runs out the other side. He will keep looking for her only to have us show his that she left the room 5 minutes ago. Such joy!

I love your kitchen brianadarnell! Your counters turned out great! You must be excited to almost be finished! I put the tall cabinet where it is because the door from the garage opens into that area. I am actually planning on storing things in there that are NOT used on an everyday basis. I moved the ovens down enough so they could be open and the garage door could still open without a crash! (I have two kids who come in and out without checking to see who might behind the door.) Can I ask if the cabinets on the sides of your sink are symmetrical? I know I shouldn't sweat it, but that was one of my reasons for trying to get rid of the 12 inch upper. Rosie-I never thought of that. I do find the area under a sink to be messy and not that useful. Thanks for a great idea!